Cherie Blair yesterday took an unprecedented step into the political spotlight when she stood alongside cabinet ministers to call for moves to "give back a voice" to Afghan women deprived of human rights under the Taliban regime.

The prime minister's wife, who has previously confined her public commitments outside her own legal work to support for charities, hosted a gathering of Afghan women refugees at Downing Street, saying their stories were "both shocking and inspiring".

The international development secretary, Clare Short, pledged to focus development work in Afghanistan on re-establishing education for girls, which was banned under the Taliban. However, she acknowledged that the Northern Alliance would not necessarily be "dedicated to women and girls' education".

She also insisted that the UK government was determined that the role of women should be recognised in the transitional administration, which is intended to be set up under the auspices of the UN, but gave no indication of the kind of representation they might expect.

The event, at which Mrs Blair took the podium ahead of Ms Short and the education secretary, Estelle Morris, echoed a similar one in the US. The first lady, Laura Bush, borrowed her husband's weekly radio slot on Saturday to highlight Taliban disregard for women's human rights.

Campaigners in this country have welcomed any move to keep the spotlight on women in Afghanistan, but have pressed for firmer commitments to ensure women play a part in the country's government.

Mrs Blair stressed the need to restore the "voice" of Afghan women, without venturing into the politically sensitive territory of how that voice should be heard.

Flanked by two female Afghan teachers who described how they were forced to flee their homeland by the Taliban, she said: "In my experience as a professional woman and a mother and somebody who has been on the margins of the political world, I have seen how all communities work more smoothly and productively when women are involved and have a voice.

"For women to make a contribution they need opportunities, self-esteem and esteem in the eyes of their society.

"The women here today prove that the women of Afghanistan still have a spirit that belies their unfair, downtrodden image. We need to help them free that spirit and give them their voice back, so they can create the better Afghanistan we all want to see."

Ms Short said any resistance from the alliance to restoring women's education would meet UN determination that aid was contingent on recognising equality.